As Kentucky navigates through its season, troubling patterns have emerged in the team’s three losses to Clemson, Ohio State, and Georgia. Each of these defeats has shared a common theme: offensive struggles. Kentucky has posted its three lowest shooting percentages in these losses, with poor marks in both field goal and three-point shooting.
In the setback to Clemson, Kentucky managed just 38.1% shooting from the field and a dismal 25.9% from beyond the arc, finishing with 66 points. Against Georgia, the Wildcats fared slightly better, shooting 37.5% from the field and 24% from three, but still only managed 69 points. The loss to Ohio State was the most concerning, as the Wildcats posted a mere 29.8% shooting performance from the field and just 18.2% from three-point range, totaling just 65 points. For context, the team’s lowest-scoring win was 77 points against Duke.
These shooting struggles are exacerbated by a shift in Kentucky’s style of play when shots aren’t falling. Rather than playing its preferred up-tempo game, the Wildcats have resorted to more isolation basketball, leading to a slowed pace that plays into their opponents’ hands. In these three losses, Ohio State and Georgia took just 55 and 53 shots, respectively—two of the lowest numbers Kentucky has allowed this season. Yet, Kentucky’s inability to capitalize on their own shot opportunities kept the games close and ultimately led to defeat.
Another troubling trend is Kentucky’s ball security. While the Wildcats still boast one of the nation’s top assist-to-turnover ratios, these numbers dip significantly in their losses. Against Clemson, Georgia, and Ohio State, Kentucky committed 12, 13, and 9 turnovers, respectively, while dishing out fewer assists than normal.
Key players have also been inconsistent. Koby Brea has struggled in scoring under 10 points, with the team splitting its record when he fails to deliver. Andrew Carr’s lack of involvement is also noticeable, as Kentucky is 2-2 when he scores fewer than six points.
Kentucky’s struggles seem to boil down to one simple fact: when shots aren’t falling, the team has yet to find a reliable way to win ugly games. With SEC play heating up, head coach Mark Pope will need to find solutions quickly to avoid further setbacks.
